Thomas V. Church

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Thomas V. Church, 58, of Watersmeet, Mich ., died June 25, 2013, in a Minneapolis hospital due to complications following a liver transplant.

He was born June 14, 1955, in Stevens Point, Wis ., to David and Joyce Church. He graduated from Stevens Point Area Senior High School with the class of 1973. He attended Gogebic Community College for two years, then graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in May 1978 with a Bachelor of Science, political science major.

He worked at the family business, Church’s Plumbing and Heating, all through high school. While in college in Michigan, he bartended at the Hurley Holiday Inn and worked for Ed Doman at Coast-to-Coast in Ironwood, Mich. While in college in Stevens Point, he worked for a contractor and was involved in the building of Sentry Insurance World Headquarters and the Ore-Ida plant in Plover, Wis. He then moved to Minneapolis and worked for Harris Mechanical and was involved in many large projects in the Twin Cities.

Upon early retirement, he traveled and resided at his favorite place on Crooked Lake in Michigan, next to Sylvania Wilderness Area. He worked relentlessly to keep it a “pristine” area, including working with the Ottawa National Forest on invasive species and was on the Friends of Sylvania board. He also served on the Watersmeet Board of Trustees, ending that term in January 2013. He was currently working on the bike/hike trail, “Wilderness Lakes Trail,” from Watersmeet to Land ‘O Lakes, Wis.

He is survived by his mother, Joyce; brothers, Dennis (Carol) and Bert; a sister, Jane (Jim) Waitanek; brother-in-law, Norbert Dalsbo; and many nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins, and many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by a dear friend, Randy Cagen; his father, David; and sister, Peggy Dalsbo.

A special thank you goes to his dear friends, Mike Ehlenz and Paul Benassi from Minneapolis, and Mike Szurek from Chicago.

Cremation has taken place.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Tom Church to Friends of Sylvania. Visit friendsofsylvania.org/support.html to print the donation form for mailing, or to donate online. Memorials may also be made to wildernesslakestrails.org.